案件資訊：
上訴人：LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
參加人：ANDREI IANCU, UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
系爭案：US7,664,971（IPR2015-01411）
本案緣起2014年LG對Advanced Micro Devices等人提出侵權告訴，之後AMD對系爭專利提出IPR請願，PTAB決定是系爭專利為顯而易知，LG提出上訴，不過這件案子的被告們都與LG達成和解了。之後，CAFC拒絕審理專利申請人對PTAB/IPR決定（不符103）的上訴議題。
在這個簡單的判決背後，USPTO對CAFC發出一個帳單：$387.60，結果CAFC否決這個帳單，理由是USPTO僅是參加人（intervenor），不是IPR的某一方。
USPTO成為參加人的法律規定在35 U.S. Code § 143，對於上訴到CAFC的案件，USPTO應將USPTO的相關檔案交付上訴法院，其中包括審查決定，USPTO此時有權成為"derivation proceeding, inter partes review, post-grant review"等上訴程序的訴訟參加人。
USPTO也根據Federal Circuit Rule 39提出帳單：
Rule 39. Costs
(a) Notice of Entitlement to Costs. When the clerk of court provides notice of judgment or order disposing of an appeal, the clerk of court must advise which party or parties are entitled to costs.
(b) Bill of Costs; Copies; Objection. A party must file the bill of costs on the form prescribed by the court. An objection to the bill of costs must not exceed 1,300 words if prepared using a computer or 5 pages if handwritten or typewritten.
根據聯邦法院規則規定，如果判決確認，可對上訴人徵收費用，但其中也有一些提示，如果費用是因為「對抗美國政府」，根據28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)，若美國政府為訴訟的一方，為參加人，將產生帳單。
然而，本篇重點是，本案並非是美國政府提起上訴，也非對抗的一方，而是AMD與LG的爭議，雖然USPTO"自願"參加訴訟，不過並非是法律規定的義務，也沒有人要求USPTO參加，因此不適用28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)。
如此，CAFC拒絕這個帳單。
[法條]
35 U.S. Code § 143 - Proceedings on appeal
With respect to an appeal described in section 142, the Director shall transmit to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit a certified list of the documents comprising the record in the Patent and Trademark Office. The court may request that the Director forward the original or certified copies of such documents during pendency of the appeal. In an ex parte case, the Director shall submit to the court in writing the grounds for the decision of the Patent and Trademark Office, addressing all of the issues raised in the appeal. The Director shall have the right to intervene in an appeal from a decision entered by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in a derivation proceeding under section 135 or in an inter partes or post-grant review under chapter 31 or 32. The court shall, before hearing an appeal, give notice of the time and place of the hearing to the Director and the parties in the appeal.（https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/143）
28 U.S. Code § 2412 - Costs and fees
(a)
(1)
Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a judgment for costs, as enumerated in section 1920 of this title, but not including the fees and expenses of attorneys, may be awarded to the prevailing party in any civil action brought by or against the United States or any agency or any official of the United States acting in his or her official capacity in any court having jurisdiction of such action. A judgment for costs when taxed against the United States shall, in an amount established by statute, court rule, or order, be limited to reimbursing in whole or in part the prevailing party for the costs incurred by such party in the litigation.
(2)
...
A judgment for costs, when awarded in favor of the United States in an action brought by the United States, may include an amount equal to the filing fee prescribed under section 1914(a) of this title. The preceding sentence shall not be construed as requiring the United States to pay any filing fee.
（https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2412）
本案Rule 36決定：http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/17-1765.Rule_36_Judgment.10-5-2018.1.pdf
Federal Circuit Rule：http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/rules-of-practice/MASTERFederalCircuitRulesOfPractice-12.1.17.pdf
有關Rule 36可參考：
Rule 36筆記 - 讓CAFC作出沒有意見的決定（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2016/07/rule-36-cafc.html）
資料參考：
https://patentlyo.com/patent/2018/11/government-intervenes-proceedings.html
Ron
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